6 Artists You Need To Know

I provide name & genre, the link to learn more, and then you do some drowning. Plain & simple. Enjoy!

1) Lunatic Soul (Progressive Rock)

2) Neutral Milk Hotel (Indie Rock)

3) Gallows (Hardcore Punk)

4) Electric Wizard (Doom Metal)

5) Violent Soho (Alternative Rock)

6) Manic Street Preachers (Alternative Rock)

More soon! Keep reading! And subscribe for updates. :)

More Video Highlights

This is a very artistically altered take on the song "Tear" by The Smashing Pumpkins. Performed live on 05/28/1998 at the Botanical Gardens. Billy's most emotional & tender era in terms of releases and live shows. Very dark, and well-orchestrated. The Pumpkins live in Hamburg in 1997. First stop on the Adore Tour.

(credit goes to TheGoodShannon on Youtube)

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: If Trees Could Scream, What Would They Sound Like?

Screaming Trees. One of the most unknown & underrated bands of the grunge era. Before Nirvana hit it big (before they were a band, even), these guys were already actively building their own sound & dedicated fanbase. "Sweet Oblivion" remains one of the top alternative albums of the 90's for me, and you really should check it out.

Vocalist Mark Lanegan is known for his indescribable baritone voice. As I stated, it cannot be described, so just listen please. One of their more well known tracks, and one of my favorites, here is "Shadow Of The Season." If you enjoy this, you may find the rest of "Sweet Oblivion" to your liking, as well as all of the Screaming Tree's discography.

Jimmy Chamberlin & Skysaw Release New Song

Skysaw. That is the name of ex-Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin's new band. Interesting, and easier to search on Google than their previous moniker, "THIS." The band consists of Jimmy Chamberlin, Anthony Pirog, Mike Reina, Boris Skalsky and Paul Wood. Reportedly, a deal with Dangerbird Records has been signed and the first physical release will come in May, entitled "Great Civilizations."

You can stream new track, "No One Can Tell" at http://www.skysawmusic.com/. Be sure to subscribe with their mailing list in order to gain a free mp3 download of it as well.

Now, if you are like me, you have missed the ferocity of Chamberlin's drumming since his March 2009 departure from the Pumpkins. The man is a monster, and is often cited as one of the greatest drummers of our era. His drumming on the newly released track, "No One Can Tell" is nothing phenomenal, but still refreshing to hear. Guy is as precise and smooth with his drums as ever.

Lyrically, nothing too special. The vocalist sounds like a loose interpretation of Maynard James Keenan or Billy Howerdel.  "No One Can Tell" is very reminiscent of the likes of Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Ashes Divide without coming off as an imitation. It has it's own flavor, without a doubt. 

Looking forward to the release.

Tulin Of The Electric Prunes Collapses; Smashing Pumpkins Set To Release New Music.

Mark Tulin, 62, of  1960's psychadelic rock group, The Electric Prunes, died unexpectedly on Saturday February 26th. He was helping out with the Avalon Underwater Clean-Up in Avalon, California at the time when he collapsed. Medics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead. RIP 11/21/1948-02/26/2011.

The group was known for their experimental take on the genre, and for the struggle which ensued between them and their label over creative control. This is one thing that seemingly scarred the musicians, Tulin included, for a very long time.

Mr. Tulin was more recently associated with alt-rock band, The Smashing Pumpkins. Having met Corgan while he was recording music with the now-departed Sky Saxon (The Seeds), he soon commenced recording demoes with the Pumpkins for their (then) upcoming release, "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope." In addition, Mark Tulin joined Billy on tour for his Sky Saxon tribute band, Spirits In The Sky during July & August of 2009. Also, he was seen playing bass for a charity performance with Corgan & friends under the moniker, Backwards Clock Society.

The Prunes' bassist is credited for contributing bass guitar on the first 4-track volume of "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope," entitled "Songs For A Sailor." Other appearances included the only 2 Smashing Pumpkins performances to ever feature a male bassist. The Record Store Day show on 4/17/10 featured Mark Tulin on bass. When the band performed "Widow Wake My Mind" from the newly released EP on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he was also added to the live line-up. According to Billy, Mark made good friends with current drummer, Mike Byrne. 40+ years his senior, and he treated him as if they were on the same level. What a guy...he will be missed.

Now, in relation to Mr. Mark Tulin, Billy Corgan has mixed and finalized two new Smashing Pumpkins songs for release. All we wait on is his announcement of when & how. The format of "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" may be changing, or at least the method of release could. A big announcement for the New Year is expected soon, but please respect the fact that Corgan is clearly upset about the loss of his friend, and rightfully so. Producer & friend of the band, Kerry Brown, updated his blog with a tribute to Tulin:

Ain't No Sleep When You're Living The Dream

A beautifully drawn tribute, indeed.

A track called "Zen Baby" has been described within the post, which had been mixed just days before Tulin's collapse. Originally intended for use by The Electric Prunes, Billy opted to keep it for the Pumpkins & flesh it out. Whether or not this track will be one of the next two Smashing Pumpkins songs released is open to speculation, but we do know it is a factor. Seeing as it is connected to Tulin in a way, it might just serve as a tribute of sorts from Billy & The Pumpkins. Here is the only known recording of this track in-full, derived from one of the bands' soundchecks from their tour this past summer.

Sounds good, that is for sure. More energetic than anything the band has put out in a while. Fans attending the soundchecks have reported how much better it sounded live. Looking forward to it. This studio video was recently put up on the band's facebook, and if you listen close to the lyrics and chord changes, it is the same song. In acoustic/demo form no doubt. Supposedly filmed this past Monday. "Zen Baby!"

Rest in peace, Mr. Mark Tulin.

Thom Yorke Of Radiohead: Late Night Dancer

The music video for Radiohead's new song  "The Lotus Flower" is up on Youtube. All I can say is...Thom?

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: Triple Threat Tuesday!!

Seeing as I have been absent as of late, I am giving three songs today to make up for it. "Idioteque" by Radiohead. "That Golden Rule" by Biffy Clyro. "Another Morning Stoner" by ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead.

No descriptions, just listen & enjoy. :)

Musical/\Revertion Song Of The Day: Late-Night Jitters, And Some Black Eyes

"Swim with me into your blackest eyes." That is a lyric from prog-rock band Porcupine Tree's song, "Blackest Eyes" from their 2002 album, "In Absentia." The release chronicles the life and downfall of a serial killer, from birth to decrepit end. This song opens the story in a very obscure manner, and I'll be damned if it doesn't hook you right in. Starts off with some odd effects before launching into a heavy riff and bombastic drums. For fans back when this album/single dropped, it was a far cry from the Pink Floyd inspired "The Sky Moves Sideways", or the poppy soundscapes of "Stupid Dream" and "Lightbulb Sun."

This also marked the arrival of new drummer, Gavin Harrison, and a much denser, more brutal drumming style altogether. Having largely avoided the metal genre for years, Steven Wilson revitalized his interest in the scene and decided to incorporate it into his own. Combining Opeth with The Beatles & Pink Floyd sans growling vocals is no easy task, but accomplish it he did.

"In Absentia" is the first Porcupine Tree effort to draw on such influences. "Blackest Eyes," "Strip The Soul," and "Wedding Nails" all draw upon metal inspiration, among portions of other tracks.

In short, "Blackest Eyes" is a heavier track with acoustic verses, a catchy chorus and explosive drums.  The lyrics tell of a child being sung a lullaby by his mother, only to grow wild in the future. What sort of "wild", you say? A very demented sort, for sure.

"I got wiring loose inside my head
I got books that I never, ever read
I got secrets in my garden shed
I got a scar where all my urges bled
I got people underneath my bed
I got a place where all my dreams are dead
Swim with me into your blackest eyes."

 All sung in a casual, almost playful tone by Steven Wilson in his Lennon-esque voice, giving way to cascading guitar riffs. Cool song bro. Check it out:

3 Guitar Riffs To Blow Your Ears To Sincere Blasphemous Joy

Ever sat by the radio (back when it was actually good) and waited for something you like to come on? And then out of the static comes a song with a lead so monstrous, you practically crash the car? I know have. Therefore, riffs will be had. In threes. At least a couple times a week. Heavy metal & classic rock have been done to hell & back, so we shall avoid those. Here are the first cuts, and try not to make a mess. Descriptions unnecessary.

Billy Corgan & His Pumpkins: A Brief Acknowledgement.

Midnight, and I've got one thing on my mind. Billy Corgan & The Smashing Pumpkins. Last artist standing from the 90's? Maybe not, as Alice in Chains are still making good music. However, I do believe he is one of the few. He is known for having a very distinctive vocal style, being one of a very "nasal" nature. When he sang, it would evoke each & every sort of emotion you could fathom. Lyrically, he has an indisputable and easily recognizable style, often making his own words and odd pairings to create quite an effective result.

"Candy cane walks
Down
To build a bonfire,
To break my fall."

"You're an empty promise
You're an easy chair
You're the gods forces
Struck down somewhere

You're a secret noticed
You're a mystery sky
You're a wish floating
Up to the night"

His guitar work is very much underrated, and anyone who has looked into their catalogue even a bit can tell a part he wrote from a group of songs. A unique style, simplistic...yet also complex in certain ways. BC is known for over-dubbing his guitar parts and creating odd sounding guitar riffs & arrangements.

If you have never, ever listened to two albums called 'Siamese Dream' and 'Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness', then you may have some kind of void in your musical world that needs filling. You know those pop-rock and 'emo' bands of today? Well, a lot of them are known to have been inspired by The Pumpkins. My Chemical Romance cites them as their hugest influence. And although these bands formed of the ripples of their legacy are predominantly gnats on the web of music, they were inspired with very good reason.

They started in 1988 as, more or less, a grunge band with hints of psychadelia and a very strong influence derived from the alt rock band, 'The Cure.' Billy Corgan on lead guitar & vocals. D'arcy Wretzky on bass, James Iha on guitar. To round it out, an incredibly talented young jazz enthusiast by the name of Jimmy Chamberlin on the skins. Their debut record, 'Gish', was all of this & more. Just enough to crack the barrier, so to speak. That, combined with a contribution of the song "Drown" to the popular movie soundtrack, 'Singles', made enough of a miniscule ripple in the midst of Nirvana's 'Nevermind'  to earn them the chance to record a major label follow-up.

Come 1993. After tumultuous recording sessions, pressure, drugs and depression, 'Siamese Dream' emerged from the minds of Billy Corgan & his band mates. A highly influential & successful record, one cannot deny the sincerity of a song such as "Mayonaise", the desperation of the hit single, "Disarm", the fast-paced stomp of "Geek USA" or the obscurity of the eight minute & forty-three second jam, "Silverfuck". Even 90's enthusiasts who hate Corgan will have you know that this record is a must-have. It was during these sessions that Billy was labeled as a "control freak" and a "studio-tyrant", something he would have to live with right up till the present, and probably forever.

And now, we come to 1995, and 'Mellon Collie.' Considered by many to be this band's defining moment. A sprawling, 28-track record with intricate ballads, incinerating rockers, and obscurities within. The diversity in this opus is immense, yet it all flows quite well. Key tracks include 'Zero', 'X.Y.U.', 'Muzzle', ' Thru The Eyes Of Ruby', 'Bodies', 'Where Boys Fear To Tread', and of course the classic hit you may actually be aware of, 'Tonight, Tonight'. Truly an album to endure, and I will review it in full in due-time.

'Adore', a 1998 release, and 'Machina/the machines of god' (closing their career at the time in 2000) were some of the most flawless and honest records I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Unfortunately, they went relatively unloved through harsh criticisms and poor record sales. Many consider them to be his artistic peak, as do I. He was scathed by such negative response, which would haunt him years later.

The Pumpkins were plagued by inside-problems, drugs and Corgan's personal turmoil. They broke up in December of 2000, and Corgan soon found refuge with Jimmy in a new musical endeavor called Zwan in 2001.

After releasing a studio album, as well as writing a multitude of live material & what can be assumed to be demoes, Zwan disbanded, never to be heard from again.

Billy then opted for a long-awaited solo release, and TheFutureEmbrace was recorded & released in 2005. While the era had some very memorable cuts, it was the beginning of a fall from grace with Billy.

That same year, he took out a full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune to announce his desire to reform The Smashing Pumpkins. Him & Jimmy returned with three new members to release a lackluster record entitled, 'Zeitgeist'. The fans retracted, his voice seemed different, the lyrics were way off. The songs' arrangements were just fine, but the production of them sacrificed the quality. That coupled with a lack of sincerity on the album caused a whiplash. They toured through fall/winter of 2008, ending with a 20th Anniversary Tour filled with bad auras and an angry man singing uninspired songs. It was a dark time for the band, and through it all, BC & JC seemed to at least be on a proper (and quite dark) musical track, showcasing new material such as "As Rome Burns", "Owata", "A Song For A Son", and an extended riff-fest take on Simon & Garfunkel's gem, "The Sounds Of Silence".

 Jimmy, heeding the advice of a "Shaman"......left the band. Billy revealed the desire to carry on with a 44-song concept album with the title, 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope'. 44 songs, free, no strings attached. All released online through smashingpumpkins.com, and with limited quantity 4 song EP boxsets released for collectors.

Many ridicule Billy for carrying on without Jimmy, let alone James & D'arcy. After seeing how Jimmy left the band due to "spiritual advice", James toured with Hanson, and D'arcy is still struggling with her own issues, I have developed a sort of respect for this man. Certainly in the sense that no matter what, it is music he is after...and the satisfaction of recognition. No drugs, no bullshit. He may not be at the top of his game, but he has his determination. The man refuses to succumb to "dad rock" or being a fondly remembered "hits band". He constantly shits on his own material for the sake of moving forward, no matter how many get in his way and wave their fingers at him. Even as he approaches middle-age, he insists that he still has to "fake it for one more show." Good on him, at least.

Back to the new project. The songs on the first EP were faded, in a bad way. Save for the closing track. EP#2 saw better reception, and leads to where we are now. Billy is planning on releasing two more songs to conclude the 10-song part 1 portion of the record.

Since TheFuture Embrace was released, Billy has hit a rock in rock.The man definitely still has it in him, without a doubt. However, it seems that all the negatives that came with his critics/fans over the years have subdued the beast. He can still shred like no other on guitar, do not overlook that. It is more so his lyrics & vocals have had a quite stale quality since the reformation in 2007, and I truly believe it resides within a fear of reception. Vocally speaking, he has a very technically-flawed singing style. And though myself and millions of others clearly see his cries & shrieks as a gift from the musical world, many others did not. The man was ridiculed for it to a high degree. Beyond that, his later Pumpkins' releases were defecated upon because they weren't..."hip", for lack of better word. Thank you, Britney Britney & NSYNC for that.

Traumatized by rejection, it would seem he is playing it a bit too safe these days. Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, thus far, is interesting. I truly enjoy 3 of the songs, and get a little bit out of the rest (save for one complete dud). Two great songs so far:

Mike Byrne (current drummer), Nicole Fiorentino (current bassist), and Jeff Schroeder (current guitarist) all seem to have given him a new-found spark in his eyes. He has let them in the studio, and already they have come up with something as mouth-watering as this little number together (which easily casts a shadow upon the recent SP material):

With a full-band once again in the studio, perhaps his "tyranny" is over, and he can find the peace of mind to find himself once more. Over & out, and I sincerely felt my first official post should be quite long. Have a good weekend!